Still Human

The voice comes from the darkness.

Unknown Voice: Please… I'm still human.

Lian, Kiera, Daren, and Orven stand frozen on the staircase.

Kiera: Daren…

Daren: Don't move.

A young man stands several steps below them.

Unknown Voice: Don't come closer.

Lian: We're not going to hurt you.

Unknown Voice: How do I know that?

Daren: You don't.

The man introduces himself as Orven.

He explains that he had been hiding in the basement with five others.

Daren: Where are they now?

Orven looks toward the stairs.

Orven: I'm the only one left.

Kiera: What happened?

Orven: We thought the basement was safe.

They had watched people become sick after complaining of intense cold.

Lian: How long did it take?

Orven: Different for each person.

Kiera: And after that?

Orven: They changed.

Orven reveals that he locked the infected downstairs.

But something else had been there.

Lian: What?

Orven: I don't know.

Kiera: You saw it?

Orven: No.

Kiera: Then how do you know?

Orven: Because I heard it.

He describes a sound like someone breathing.

The group moves upstairs.

Wet footprints appear again.

Kiera: There are three people.

Orven: No.

Lian: What?

Orven: Those aren't people.

The footprints suddenly stop.

A voice comes from above.

Unknown Voice: Help…

Kiera: Another survivor?

Orven: Maybe.

Daren: We check.

Orven: No.

Daren: Why?

Orven: Because that's the voice I heard in the basement.

The lights flicker.

When they return, the staircase is empty.

They continue upstairs.

A door slowly opens somewhere behind them.

CLICK.

The group stops.

Orven: Whatever happens…

Orven: Don't let it reach the others.